All in Mindset

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why Competition Isn't a Bad Thing, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Why Competition Isn't a Bad Thing, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Mindset

(Editor's Note: In Kyle's and Jennifer's May 2015 post, "Why Competition Isn't a Bad Thing," we explained how the new hot focus in the wedding industry and other creative fields, that of #communityovercompetition, was both compelling and confusing. Today, Kyle looks back at our original article and shares her current thoughts.)

I don’t know when competition became a dirty word in our industry, but it has done nothing but help me define my business, strive to create better products and services, and serve as inspiration to constantly improve my technique. When I began my business, I spent hours poring over competitors' websites and blogs to research the local market, gain an understanding of pricing structures, then work to set myself apart and create a viable (and competitive) offering to potential clients.

WeddingIQ Retrospective - It's Not the Economy, It's You, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective - It's Not the Economy, It's You, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Mindset

(Editor's Note: Throughout the month of April, we're continuing our look back at the most controversial, highly-visited and deeply personal posts ever written on WeddingIQ. On the hot seat today is Jen's post from April 2012, "It's Not the Economy, It's You.")

It's no secret that, in its early days, WeddingIQ could be a pretty rancorous place at times. (Okay, occasionally it still is.) I wrote my posts with a lot of passion, and often with a very black-and-white view of how things "should" be.

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Real Talk on Motivation, Revisited

WeddingIQ Retrospective: Real Talk on Motivation, Revisited

Guest Contributor
Mindset

(Editor's Note: Today, we continue our monthlong look back at some of our most personal and popular posts of all time. Read on as Kyle reminisces about her July 2015 post, "Real Talk on Motivation: What Keeps Us Going When Life Pulls Us Down?")

When I originally wrote this post in July 2015, I felt very lost. It was five months after my mom had passed from a long struggle with cancer (among other personal and family tragedies), and despite my best effort, I was not where I wanted to be emotionally or professionally. I had the naive notion that I would immediately get back to my life right where it had left off and continue growing my business.

WeddingIQ: How Everything Has Changed, and What's Next

WeddingIQ: How Everything Has Changed, and What's Next

Guest Contributor
Announcements, Mindset

I remember when I first had the idea for what would become WeddingIQ. It was very early in 2012. I'd been running my DJ company for about 10 years, mainly overseeing the customer service and administrative side of things. My then-husband and business partner had stepped back from the day-to-day operations of the company to pursue other things, leaving me at the helm. Even with the added responsibility, I just felt like something was missing. Part of it was that I wasn't feeling particularly challenged anymore - I'm definitely someone who likes to take on new things - and part of it was that I knew I wasn't doing everything I was capable of doing in this industry, one that I'd been part of since I was 21 years old.

Plus, because I'd largely systematized the DJ business so that, with the help of a great assistant, it functioned pretty smoothly without my constant supervision, I had time on my hands and my wheels always seemed to be turning. (Basically, every rant you've ever read on WeddingIQ began as a monologue inside my very chaotic brain.)  And, increasingly, I wanted to give my thoughts a voice, a platform. I found myself feeling called to do two things: to help other business owners to become more effective and successful, and also to dissect some of the bullshit I observed in the wedding industry on a regular basis. If I'm being completely honest, I think I probably also believed I had it all figured out. At least most things. (Oh, if only I knew the humble pie I'd be eating later.)

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